Well-maintained sinks can look almost brand new even after years of use. Not only do they look nicer, but they last longer! Kitchen sinks are expensive to replace. Just a little maintenance here and there can go a long way, and you won’t need to replace it. Doing small things like wiping them dry after use (particularly in the case of stainless steel models), cleaning them daily, and avoiding dropping items haphazardly into them can prolong the life of your sink.

There are many more things you can do to protect your sink from wear. For example, if you want to protect the base of your sink from knocks and cracks (some sinks are particularly prone to cracking), you should invest in a small plastic mat that you can set in your sink. The mat can cushion the material from blows due to tossed silverware, slipping plates, sharp knives, and the like. Once the mat starts to get a little dirty, just replace it or give it a good scrub-down.

Another good tip for sink maintenance is to not let used dishes or pots stay too long in the sink. You might be wondering how this could possibly be bad for the sink: the truth is that some sink materials, specifically porcelain, do not take too well to long periods of exposure to acidic substances. A great deal of the food we eat is acidic. Letting dishes that have acidic food residue on them stay in the sink for too long might transfer those leftovers on to your sink and create stains and spots.

Now when it comes to cleaning, you have to use the right cleaning product. White or collarless porcelain sinks take very well to bleach. You can apply bleach and leave it on for half an hour, then rinse it off with water afterwards to see the beautiful shine that comes from the bleaching. For colored porcelain, however, you need to use a different cleaning solution, because bleach may fade out the color of the material. A good alternative in such cases would be vinegar. Mix with a little water (or even use in undiluted form), then apply to the sink as you would any household detergent or cleaner. Take note, however, that there are some solutions that are not advised for this step of the maintenance process, depending on the sink type concerned. For example, marble and stainless steel sinks are kept away from scouring powders, which are not highly advised by many experts in the trade. Usually, gentler solutions are preferred for all types of sinks.